Gun firing system



June 19, 1956 R. cARLlN r-:rAL

GUN FIRING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 23. 1 4

R- CARLIN ET AL June 19, 1956 GUN FIRING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 25. 1954 e 22,7505843 1C Patented June i9, 1956 GUN FmlNG SYSTEMRobert Carlin, Milwaukee, Craig W. Cannon, Waukesha, and Joseph M.Mather, West Allis, Wis., assignors to vAVllis-Chalmers ManufacturingCompany, Milwaukee,

Application December 23, 1954, Serial No. 477,192 Claims. (Cl. Sil- 27)This invention relates generally to gun tiring systems and is morespeciiically concerned with a novel and improved apparatus formechanically unlocking the firing pin or similar percussion mechanismlocated in the breech of a gun and thereby detonating the ammunitioncharge Within the gun.

In gun firing mechanisms which utilize percussion to detonate theammunition charge, it is necessary, in order to ignite the charge, thata sharp blow be struck upon the primer case of the cartridge. Themechanism which imparts this blow is located in the breech of the gunand usually consists of a iiring pin, levers to withdraw the firing pinafter it has struck, and a firing pin control mechanism or breech searwhich releasably holds the firing pin in a retracted position. A springis ordinarily used to drive the firing pin against the primer case, andthe breech scar, which is actuated by a trigger device, holds the tiringpin in a retracted position against the propelling force of the tiringpin spring.

The trigger device used to actuate the breech sear in this type offiring mechanism should be capable of moving the breech sear practicallyinstantaneously from the locking position holding the tiring pinmechanism. This is desirable in order that the tiring of the gun willtake place at substantially the same instant that the operator of thegun actuates the trigger mechanism. In addition, if the breech sear isnot moved out of engagement with the tiring pin mechanism abruptly,faulty tiring and eX- cessive wear within the tiring mechanism itselfoccurs due to the frictional engagement between the breech sear and thetiring pin mechanism during the interval when the breech sear is onlypartially dislodged.

After the gun has been red, and before the firing pin can be held in itscocked position in preparation for the next round, i. e., in itsretracted position against the propelling force of the tiring pinspring, it is necessary that the breech sear return to the originalposition it occupied before the tiring pin mechanism was released. Toreturn the breech scar to this position, gun tiring mechanisms mayprovide a sear spring in the gun breech which yieldingly resistsmovement of the seaxfrom its locking engagement with the firing pinmechanism. When a trigger mechanism for remote control of a breech searis installed with a gun firing mechanism, because of the frictionallosses within the trigger mechanism, the apparatus used to return thebreech scar to its preiiring position is often insuicient to return thebreech sear against the frictional drag of the trigger mechanism. Whenthis situation oc- 'curs it is necessary to modify considerably the gunbreech tiring mechanism when a remote control triggermechanism isinstalled, to insure that the breech Sear will prop- -erly return to itsprering position. This frictional resistance of the trigger mchanismbecomes increasingly important as the distance between the triggermechanism and the gun breech is increased.

Generally, it is an objectr of this invention to provide lan improvedsystem for remotely controlling the tiring of guns, and which systemlends itself for use in connection with gun firing mechanisms of thehereinbefore outlined character.

More speciiically, it is an object of this invention to provide animproved gun tiring system which will impart sequentially a tiringstroke and a return stroke to a firing pin control mechanism in a gunbreech.

Another object of this invention is to provide an irnproved gun tiringsystem which employs a spring powered power transmitting means to impartsequentially to a tiring pin control mechanism a tiring stroke and areturn stroke. v

Still another object of this invention is to provide a gun tiring systemof the hereinbefore described character which employs a spring poweredactuating element to impart to a trigger control element actuating thefiring pin control mechanism in a gun breech, a firing stroke and areturn strokewherein the actuating element cannot be cocked until thetrigger control element has completed its return stroke.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gun tiring system ofthe hereinbefore outlined character wherein the firing stroke impartedto the rng pin control mechanism can be readily adjusted by adjustmentwithin the gun tiring mechanism.

Quite frequently under modern conditions, it is desirable that severalweapons which are stationed at different points be under the control ofa single tiring lever. In that case it is desirable, for practicaloperation, that the operator of the firing control unit be able toselect at will the number and combination of guns which he wishes tolire at any given time. Also, the firing control unit which is designedfor multiple gun operation should be as small as possible, particularlyso when used in a combat vehicle where space is limited.

Accordingly, it is still another object ofthis invention to provide animproved gun tiring control system which can lire by the operation of asingle control lever simultaneously any preselected combination of gunscontrolled by the system.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide a multiplegun control mechanism of the hereinbefore described character whichforms a compact unitary structure, and which can readily be adapted foruse with any desired number of guns in a multiple gun installation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by thepresent invention, various novel features of which will become apparentas the following speciiication is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a gun tiring control unit showing one of thegun trigger actuating mechanisms in the unit in an uncooked position andwith parts of the front cover plate for the unit removed;

Fig. 2 is a front View of a multiple gun firing control unit having sixindividual gun trigger actuating mechanisms of the type shown in Fig. l;part of the unit shown in Fig. 2 being shown in section along the linelI-ll of Fig. l to expose details of one of the trigger actuatingmechanisms, and parts of the front cover plate being omitted to show afront view of another one of the mechanisrns;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the gun trigger actuating mechanism shownin Fig. l, Fig. 3 being drawn at a reduced scale and showing themechanism in an uncooked lposition with front and rear cover plates,parts of the the mechanism in a cocked position;

Fig. 6 is another view similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating a temporarycondition of the mechanism during the operating cycle; and

Fig. 7 is another view of the mechanism illustrating a temporarycondition during the operation cycle.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a control unit 1 comprises six gun triggeractuating mechanisms 2 which are mounted side by side in a control unithousing 9. A ring cable 11 is connected to each trigger actuatingmechanism 2 and leads from the top of the housing 9 to six tiringmechanisms (not shown) located, respectively, in the breeches of sixseparate guns. As the gun breech firing mechanism forms no part of thisinvention, for the purposes of this disclosure it is enough to say thatfiring cable 11 will impart a firing stroke and a return stroke to asuitable tiring control element (not shown) within the corresponding gunbreech. This is done by sequentially imparting to any selected tiringcable 11 a pull toward and a thrust away from the control unit housing9, in the manner to be described.

The gun control unit housing 9 is formed by a frame type structurehaving three vertically spaced wall portions, namely upper horizontalwall 21, center horizontal wall 22 and lower tilted wall 23 which extendlongitudinally of the control unit. Integrally formed with andconnecting these three wall portions with each other are left and rightvertical supporting walls 24 and 26, respectively. The control unithousing 9 is rigidly supported as by bolts 7 on a suitable bracketstructure 8 so as to be within easy access of a gun control operator.

Detachably secured about the outside of housing 9 are three coverplates, namely top cover plate 27, rear cover plate 28 and front coverplate 29. These cover plates together with left and right supportingwalls 24 and 26 enclose the six gun trigger actuating mechanisms andprotect the mechanisms from dirt, moisture and dust which may be presentabout the control unit.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, extending between and tixedly secured tosupporting walls 24 and 26 below center wall 22 is a main support shaft31. Above support shaft 31 and between upper wall 21 and center wall 22is a salvo shaft 32 rotatably mounted in supporting walls 24 and 26.These two shafts together with center Wall 22 of housing 9 support themain operating components of the six gun trigger mechanisms in the guncontrol unit.

As the gun trigger mechanisms are substantially identical, only one ofthem will be described.

Each of the gun trigger mechanisms is equipped with a forked cockinghandle or lever 36 having two arms 37 and 38, and pivotally mounted atits bifureated end about main support shaft 31. Rotatably mounted abouta bearing sleeve 39 surroundingV the main support shaft 31 between arms37 and 38 of lever 36 are two identical actuating plates 41 and 42.These plates are positioned at opposite sides of a central controlelement or plate 43 rotatably supported between the actuating plates onbearing sleeve 39. Actuating plates 41 and 42 are joined at their outerperiphery by two interconnecting pins 44 (Fig. l) and 46 extendingthrough both plates. From the foregoing it is apparent that plates 41and 42, and pins 44 and 46 form a single actuating element which willrotate as a unit about shaft 31. Two small coil springs 47 and 48 (Fig.2) are anchored in the inside lateral surfaces of arms 37 and 38 ofcocking lever 36, and in the outside lateral surfaces of actuatingplates 41 and 42, respectively. The springs 47 and 48 serve to positionthe elements described within the bifurcated end of forked cooking lever36 and to exert a clockwise bias, as viewed in Fig. l, on cooking lever36 with respect to the actuating element 41, 42.

As can best be seen in Fig. 3, above the actuating plate assembly 41, 42and seated in a recessed portion 51 of central housing wall 22 is aheavy coil compression spring 52. Extending axially through the coilspring 52 and pivotally secured to pin 44 of the actuating plate .4assembly 41, 42 is a pull rod 53. Pull rod 53 has integrally formed atits lower end a ange portion 54 which bears against the lower side ofcenter housing wall 22 to limit the upward movement of the pull rod.Adjustably secured to the upper end of rod 53 is a nut and washerassembly 56 which holds coil spring 53 under compression and seatedwithin recess 51. The foregoing described structure forms a resilientmeans for constantly urging the actuating plate assembly 41, 42 to itslimit position in a clockwise direction, which is reached when flangeportion 54 strikes the lower surface of center housing wall 22.

As can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, fitted into the lower front part ofmiddle housing wall 22 and lying longitudinally along the lower surfaceof the wall above the actuating element 41, 42 and control element 43 isa sear mount 61. Extending along the back edge of scar mount 61 is aflange 62, and the mount is secured to the underside of wall 22 by meansof a screw 63 protruding through flange 62 into wall 22. Directly abovethe con trol element 43 and extending transversely across Sear mount 61is a slot 64 permitting control element 43 to rotate beneath sear mount61. Control element 43 is formed with an arcuate edge portion 66concentric with its axis of rotation or pivot axis about support shaft31. To the right of edge portion 66, as seen in Figs. 3 and 6, and inthe outer edge of control element 43 is a notch forming two shoulders 67and 68. The arcuate, downwardly facing inner surface of slot 64 in searmount 61 is radially spaced farther away from the center of shaft 31than the radially outer surface of arcuate edge portion 66. However, asshown in Fig. 3, shoulder 68 of control element 43 extends radiallybeyond the arcuate inner surface of slot 64. Consequently, controlelement 43 is free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction from theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 6 to the position in which it isshown in Fig. 3, that is, until it reaches the limit position which isdetermined by shoulder 68 striking scar mount 61.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, pivotally secured by a pin 69 to a radiallyprotruding portion 71 of control element 43 is a cable yoke 72. Cableyoke 72 is adjustably connected by nut and screw 73 to the tiring cable11 which extends outwardly through a cable conduit 74 to an associatedgun tiring mechanism as previously described. A control element returnspring or auxiliary resilient means 76 is tixed to one end of pin 69 andto the under side of upper housing wall 21 so as to exert a tensileforce on control element 43 and constantly urge the latter in acountcrclockwise direction toward the limit position which is determinedby shoulder 68 striking sear mount 61.

As shown in Fig. 3, control element 43 has formed at its lower edge anotch 77. Pivotally mounted about pin 46 between actuating plates 41 and42 of the actuating element is an arm or pawl 7S for releasable lockingengagement with notch 77. A retaining cup 79 iixed between actuatingplates 41 and 42 forms a seat for a small coil spring 81 which is undercompression and has its upper end in a spring seat portion 82 of pawl78. Since spring 81 is under compression, pawl 78 is constantly beingurged in a clockwise direction about pin 46.

Rotatably supported in Sear mount 61 and extending longitudinallythrough the mount in overlying relation to the control element 43 is ascar assembly 86 (Fig. 7). As can be seen in Figs. 2 and 7, thisassembly consists of three sear arms 87, 88 and 89 which are integrallyunited and rigidly secured to a cylindrical stem 91. Sear arm 57 lies ina common vertical plane with arm 37 of cooking lever 36, whereas seararms 88 and 89 lie laterally of this plane between sear arm 87 andcontrol element 43.

Extending transversely across sear stem 91 in av common vertical planewith control element 43 is a notch 92. When the scar assembly is rotatedso that the sear stem i. araches 91 is in the position shown in Fig. 6,the arcuate inside surface of notch 92 will be radially spaced fartheraway from the pivot axis of control element 43 than the radially outersurface of the arcuate edge portion 66 of control element 43. Controlelement 43 may then freely rotate in a clockwise direction from thecounterclockwise limit position shown in Fig. 3. With the controlelement 43 in the position shown in Fig. 3, rotation of the searassembly to the position shown in Fig. 3 will thrust the inner edge ofnotch 92 in stem 91 below shoulder 67 of control element 43, and preventrotation of the control element in a clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 3.

j Mounted on the lower wall 23 of the control unit housing 9 and ingenerally the same vertical plane as the control plate 43 is anadjustable stop comprising a striker screw 96 which is threaded into atapped hole within the wall 23 and lockable in any position of axialadjustment by means of a jam nut 97. Adjustment of screw 96 in one axialdirection or the other effects the operation of pawl 78 in a mannerwhich will be more fully explained hereinbelow.

The mode of operation of the described gun tiring control unit is asfollows: In an uncocked position as shown in Fig. 3, compression spring52 urges nut and washer assembly 56 and pull rod 53 upwardly within thehousing so that ange portion 54 of rod 53 bears against the lower sideof the middle housing wall 22. The actuating plate assembly 41, 42 willbe in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 and which is its limitposition for clockwise rotation. With the actuating plate assembly inthis position, adjustable stop screw 96 has struck pawl 78 and pivotedit about connecting pin 46 against the force of coil spring 81 freeingpawl 78 from notch 77 in control element 43. The control element 43 isconstantly being urged in a counterclockwise direction by controlelement return spring 76 to its limit position determined by shoulder 68striking sear mount 61. ln the uncocked position, sear stem 91 hasrotated so that the inner edge of notch 92 in the sear stem is belowshoulder 67 of the control element 43.

To cock the trigger actuating mechanism, the actuating plate assembly41, 42 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about central shaft31. This rotation of the actuating plate assembly will force pull rod 53and nut and washer assembly 56 downwardly so as to further compresscompression spring 52. As the actuating plate assembly 41, 42 isrotated, coil spring 81 bears against spring seat S2 of pawl 78 rotatingpawl 78 about pin 46 so that the pawl will contact and follow the outerperipheral edge of control element 43. When rotation is continued untilthe position shown in Fig. has been reached, pawl 78 will drop intonotch 77 of the control element. Since coil spring 52 is considerablystronger than return spring 76, coil spring 52 will now tend to Vurgeboth the actuating element 41, 42 and the control element 43 in aclockwise direction. However, since the inner edge of notch 92 in searstem 91 is below shoulder 67 of the control element 43, the parts willbe locked in their cocked position as shown in Fig. 5.

When it is desired to release the assembly, sear stern 91 is rotated sothat the edge of notch 92 is raised above shoulder 67 and arcuate edgeportion 66 is free to rotate past notch 92. The entire assembly nowrotates in a clockwise direction under the force of coil spring S2,imparting a tiring stroke to control element 43. Clockwise rotation ofthe actuating element 41, 42 and control element 43 in unison with eachother from the cocked position shown in Fig. 5 continues until pawl 78strikes the protruding end of screw 96. As the actuating element 41, 42continues to rotate, pawl 78 will pivot about connecting pin 46 andrelease control element 43 from the torque of the actuating element 41,42 as shown in Fig. 6. The actuating element 41, 42 will continue torotate in a clockwise direction until ange 54 of pull rod 53 strikes thelower side of center housing wall 22. Since the control element 43 hasbeen freed from rotation with the actuating element 41, 42, returnspring 76 will impart a return stroke to control element 43 by rotatingthe element in a counterclockwise direction until shoulder 68 strikessear mount 61, as shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that coil spring 52, controlelement return spring 76, actuating element 41, 42 and pawl 78constitute a spring biased power transmitting means which Will impartsequentially to control elernent 43 rotation first in a clockwisedirection to impart a ring stroke and then in a counterclockwisedirection to impart a return stroke. This rotation occurs each time theactuating element 41, 42 rotates from its cocked to its uncockedposition. The releasable coupling mechanism afforded by pawl 78 andnotch 77 allows return spring 76 to rotate control element 43 in adirection opposite to that imparted to the control element 43 by theactuating element 41, 42, after the actuating element has completed acertain fraction of its rotation from its cocked to its uncockedposition. Accordingly, firing cable 11 connected to the control element43 is rst pulled toward and then thrust away from the control unithousing 9. Adjustment of screw 96 will determine the instant at which,during the rotation of the actuating element from its cocked to itsuncocked position, the pawl 78 will be tripped by screw 96 anddisengaged from notch 77.

For cocking the individual trigger mechanisms it will be seen withreference to Fig. 7 that arm 37 of cocking lever 36 has formed at itsinside edge a nub portion 101. Pin 44 connecting actuating plates 41 and42 extends beyond plate 42 into the path of arcuate movement of nubportion 101 about the axis of shaft 31. When the cocking lever 36 isrotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position in which it isshown in Fig. 7, nub portion 101 will strike pin 44 and cause theactuating plates 41 and 42 to rotate about shaft 31 and thereby cock themechanism. As previously explained, since coil springs 47 and 48 (Fig.2) tend to rotate the cocking lever in a clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 7, with respect to the actuating element 41, 42, when thecocking lever is released after the trigger mechanism has been cocked,these springs will return the lever to its rest position against a stopabutment 102 formed in the lower housing wall 23, as shown in Figs. 5and 7. j

Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, it will also be seen that the upper end ofarm 37 has integrally formed therewith an arcuate nger portion 104. Whenthe sear assembly is in the position shown in Fig. 6, i. e., when thearcuate edge portion 66 of control element 43 lies beneath the arcuateinside surface of notch 92 of the sear stem, arm 87 of the sear assemblyextends upwardly as in Fig. 7 in abutting relation to the forward end ofnger 104. As a result, the sear assembly cannot be rotated from theposition shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 4 because, asshown in Fig. 6, the inside surface of notch 92 will immediately strikearcuate edge 66, when nger portion 104, as shown in Fig. 7, strikes seararm 87 and tends to rotate the sear assembly. Cooking of the triggermechanism cannot be accomplished, therefore, until the control element43 returns to its prering position shown in Fig. 3, which clears theedge of notch 92 for rotation below shoulder 67 in the control element43. A Sear spring 106 is fastened to arm 89 of the sear assembly and tothe upper housing wall 21, respectively, to rotate the sear assemblyinto locking engagement with the control element after it has returnedto its preiring position.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that it is relativelyeasy to adapt it for use with any number of desired guns. A common ringdevice has been provided so that when any number or combination of guntrigger mechanisms have been cocked, they will be fired simultaneouslyby the actuation of a single control lever.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, secured to salvo shaft 32 by means of hubsleeves 111 and brackets 112 is an actuating rod 113 which extends thelength of the housing underneath the salvo shaft 32 in overlyingparallel relation to support shaft 31. When the six gun triggermechanisms 2 are axially aligned along the support shaft 31 as shown inFig. 2, and return springs 76 have returned all control elements 43 totheir prering positions corresponding to Fig, 3, scar springs 106 willrotate the sear assemblies of all trigger mechanisms until rotation isprevented by reason of sear arms 88 striking actuating rod 113. In thisposition, sear stem 91 of each scar assembly has rotated so that theinner edge of notch 92 in the stem is below shoulder 67 of the controlelement. Any or all trigger mechanisms may now be cocked as previouslydescribed and shown in Fig. 4, since the finger 104 of the respectivecocking lever is free to pass over the sear arm 87 of the associatedsear assembly, and the edge of notch 92 in the sear stem of each triggermechanism will prevent clockwise movement of the respective controlelements 43 from its prering position corresponding to Fig. 3. Whensalvo shaft 32 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFig. l, actuating rod 113 moves to the right and rotates all sear arms88 and associated sear stems 91 in clockwise direction with the resultthat the control element 43 of each mechanism will be released forrotation in a clockwise direction.

Any suitable means may be used for rotating salvo shaft 32 in the mannerdescribed. In the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2, an arm 116 issecured to the end of shaft 32 which extends outwardly from leftvertical supporting wall 24. At the free end of arm 116 a screw 117 anda clamping bracket 118 are provided to secure a salvo cable 119 to thearm 116. Salvo cable 119 is secured at its other end to any suitablecontrol lever (not shown) so that movement of the control lever will betransmitted to the salvo cable 119 so as to rotate salvo shaft 32 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple and compact controlunit has been provided which enables a gun operator to tire from aremote position any number or combination of guns connected to thecontrol unit. Only those guns will be fired whose trigger mechanisms inunit 1 have been cocked. If a trigger mechanism is not cocked, movementof the actuating rod 113 and the sear assembly for the uncockedmechanism will not lire the gun associated therewith, since coil spring52 and actuating element 41, 42 of the uncocked mechanism are not er1-gaged with control element 43. The control element 43 of the uncockedmechanism will remain urged by return spring 76 to its limit position asshown in Fig. 3, in which Shoulder 68 bears against sear mount 61.

Accidental tiring is also etectively guarded against. Should the controlelement 43 fail to return completely to its pretiring position, rotationof the cocking lever 36 and actuating element 41, 42 to a position wherepawl 78 engages notch 77 of the control element, and subsequent releaseof the cocking lever, would inadvertently impart to the control element43 a ring stroke when the cocking lover is suddenly released. Thisaction would occur since if the control element 43 had not completelyreturned, the inner edge of notch 92 in scar stern 91 would not havedropped below shoulder 67 of the control element 43, and the controlelement would be free to rotate in a clockwise direction with theactuating element 41, 42 upon the release of the cocking lever. By theprovision of arcuate edge portion 66 in the control element and thecomplementary notch surface 92 in the scar stem, the trigger mechanismhas been guarded so that it cannot be cocked until the control elementhas returned to its preliring position. lf the control element has notreturned, the cocking lever 36 cannot be rotated since linger 104 of thecocking lever will strike arm 87 of the scar assembly and force theinside surface of notch 92 in the sear stem against arcuate edge portion66. Also, if for any reason the control element 43 has returned to itsprering position, but

the sear assembly has not returned so that it has not engaged shoulder67 of the control element 43, nger 104 will rotate the scar assembly bymovement of arm 87, and the edge of notch 92 of the sear assembly willbe moved into engagement with shoulder 67 of the control element beforethe mechanism is cocked.

Should the gun control operator decide not to tire a particular gunafter he has cocked the trigger mechanism associated with the particulargun, he is able to manually uneock the trigger mechanism without firingthe gun. This can be done by rotating the cocking lever 36 and actuatingelement 41, 42 in a counterclockwise direction until pawl '78 is free ofnotch 77 in the control element 43. The lower end of pawl 78 is thenswung manually in a direction so as to pivot about pin 46 against thepressure of spring 81. While keeping the pawl released, the cockinglever, pawl and actuating element 41, 42 can then be eased back againstthe pressure of spring 52 to an uncocked position.

The firing stroke and the return stroke imparted to the control element43 and the ring cable 11 can easily be adjusted by adjusting the tripmeans including screw 96 whereby the control element 43 is released fromrotation with the actuating element 41, 42. If screw 96 is adjusted soas to trip pawl 78 from notch 77 in the control element 4-3 after theactuating element 41, 42 has completed corsiderably less than its totalarcuate travel from the cocked to the uncocked position, a relativelysmall firing stroke will he imparted to control element 43. On the otherhand, if screw 96 is adjusted to trip pawl 78 after the actuatingelement 41, 42 has completed substantially all of its arcuate travelfrom the cocked to the uncocked position, the tiring stroke imparted tothe control element 43 will be relatively large.

While I have described only one particular embodiment of my invention,it should be understood that I do not wish to be restricted thereto andthat I intend to cover all modifications of the invention which would beapparent to one skilled in the art and that come within the scope of theappended claims.

lt is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a gun tiring system, the combination of a support, a gun triggercontrol element pivotally mounted on said support, a releasable couplingmechanism including an actuating element rotatably mounted on saidsupport and cooperable with said control element so as to impart afiring stroke to the latter by rotation of said actuating element from acocked to an uncocked position, resilient means operatively interposedbetween said support and actuating element so as to be tensioned byrotation of said actuating element from said uncocked to said cockedposition, a sear clement adjustably mounted on said support for movementinto and out of locking engagement with said control element while thelatter is in a starting position for said firing stroke, trip meanscooperable with said coupling mechanism so as to disconnect saidactuating element from said control element upon movement of saidactuating element from said cocked toward said uncocked position, andauxiliary resilient means operatively connccted with said Controlelement so as to urge the latter toward said starting position.

2. The combination set forth in claim l, wherein said releasablecoupling mechanism comprises a pawl element swingably mounted on one ofsaid control and actuating elements and lockingly engageable with theother upon rotation of said actuating element into said cocked position.

3. The combination set forth in claim l, wherein said releasablecoupling mechanism comprises a pawl element swingably mounted on saidactuating element and lockingly engageable with said control elementupon rotation of said actuating element into said cocked position, andwherein said trip means comprise an arm on said pawl and a stop mountedon said support so as to be struck by said arm upon movement of saidactuating element from said cocked toward said uncocked position.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, wherein said stop comprises astriker element engageable with said arm, and means mounting saidstriker element on said support for back and forth adjustment generallyin the direction in which said arm moves about the pivot center of saidcontrol element during said movement of said actuating element from saidcocked toward said uncocked position.

5. In a gun firing system, the combination of a support, a gun triggercontrol element pivotally mounted on said support and having an arcuateedge po-rtion concentric with its pivot axis, spring biased powertransmitting means including a releasable, automatically controlledcoupling mechanism operatively interposed between said support and saidcontrol element for sequentially imparting a firing stroke and a returnstroke in rotatively opposite directions to said control element, a searadjustably mounted on said support in cooperative relation with saidcontrol element so as to prevent a tiring stroke of the latter as longas said Sear is in a locking position and so that upon adjustment ofsaid sear to an unlocking position and a subsequent firing stroke ofsaid control element said arcuate edge portion of the latter willcooperate with said sear to prevent return of the latter to its lockingposition until said return stroke has been imparted to said controlelement.

6. In a gun firing system, the combination of a support, a gun triggercontrol element pivotally mounted on said support and having an arcuateedge portion concentric with its pivot axis, means including a springbiased actuating element pivotally mounted on said support and anautomatically controlled releasable coupling mechanism operativelyinterposed between said actuating and control elements for sequentiallyimparting a tiring stroke and a return stroke to said control element inrotatively opposite directions, and a sear rotatably mounted on saidsupport for selective adjustment to locking and unlocking positions andcooperable with said control element so that adjustment of said sear tosaid locking position while said control element is in a startingposition for said tiring stroke will lock said control element in saidposition, said sear having a surface complementary to and cooperablewith said arcuate edge portion of said control element so as to securesaid sear against movement from its unlocking to its locking positionafter said control element has moved out of said starting position.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a cockinglever rotatably mounted on said support and cooperable with saidactuating element so as to move the latter from an uncooked to a cockedposition by movement of said cocking lever from a released to atensioning position, and means including a stop element nonrotatablysecured to said sear and a complementary stop element connected withsaid cocking lever, for preventing movement of said cooking lever fromsaid released to said tensioning position while said Sear is in itsunlocking position.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, wherein said arcuate edgeportion of said control element and said complementary surface portionof said sear are arranged so as to overlap each other and thereby securesaid sear in its unlocking position against rotation relative to saidsupport in either direction after said control element has been movedout of its starting position.

9. A gun firing control device for multiple gun control comprising asupport; a plurality of gun trigger actuating mechanisms mounted on saidsupport; each of said trigger actuating mechanisms having a gun triggercontrol element pivotally mounted on said support, a spring biased powertransmitting means operatively interposed between said support and saidcontrol element for sequentially imparting a tiring stroke and a returnstroke in rotatively opposite directions to said control element whensaid transmitting means moves from a biased to an unbiased position, acocking lever operatively associated with said transmitting means forcocking said transmitting means to a biased position, and a sear mountedfor adjustment between locking and unlocking positions on said supportin cooperative relation with said control element so as to prevent afiring stroke of the latter while in a locking position; and a commonrelease means for simultaneously adjusting all of the sears for eachtrigger actuating mechanism to said unlocking position,

l0. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said guntrigger control elements has an arcuate edge portion concentric with itspivot axis and each of said sears has a surface complementary to andcooperable with said arcuate edge portion preventing movement of saidsear from an unlocking to a locking position until said control elementis in its starting position for its tiring stroke.

No references cited.

